Snap-in clip for metal studs



Sept- 15, 1959 N. NELssoN 2,903,753

SNAP-IN CLIP FOR METAL STUDS Filed Feb. 12, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

Sept. 15, 1959 N. NELssoN SNAP-1N CLIP FOR METAL sTUDs 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. l2, 1957 INVENTOR.

nited States Patent SNAP-IN CLIP FOR METAL STUDS Nels Nelsson, Chicago, Ill., assignor to United States Gypsum Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application February 12, 1957, Serial No. 639,824

7 Claims. (Cl. 20-4) This invention pertains to an improved clip, and more particularly pertains to a clip which is adapted to engage various components usually employed in a partition construction in a ready and facile manner.

Heretofore, the performance of a plurality of timeconsuming steps was necessary in the normal course of erecting a partition assembly. Each of these latter steps involved the connection of discrete securing means to various portions of the assembly whereby the partition wallboards, stud members, baseboard members, etc., could be engaged and secured in place.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved clip for use in a partition construction which enables all partition components to be readily assembled into a sturdy construction while dispensing with other securing means commonly .employed in assemblies of this type.

It is another object of this invention to provide an improved clip in which the usual partition components may be interconnected in a facile manner fby means of simple snap-in and wedging engagements. i

. It is yet another object of this invention to provide an impnoved clip construction which is adapted to engage a plurality of partition components so as to form a sturdy, permanent construction, which construction may be disassembled, if desired, with ease. The latter ease of assembly and disassembly is directly owing to the novel clip components which, although fiormed readily, are designed so as to engage a large variety of partition components if slight clip modifications are made.

The above and other objects of this invention will become more apparent upon proceeding with the following detailed description, accompanying drawings and appended claims.

In one embodiment of this invention a channel-like clip member which is adapted to be secured to a floor surface is provided, having opposed, slightly converging, wall portions maintained in spaced relationship by means of an interconnecting web portion. In the normal course of use, the clips will be predeterminately spaced in a line on a supporting surface along which a partition is to be erected. The distal edge portions of the wall portions are slightly divergent so as to form twin strip portions disposed at obtuse angles to the remaining wall portions with which they are integrally formed. Twin stud-engaging members which are vstruck from the clip web are disposed in parallel relationship and substantially normal to the supporting web. The latter members are adapted to engage studs which may be composed of two spaced pairs of metal rods spot-welded to bight portions of a sinuous rod joining the opposed rod pairs. Recessforming projections define the distal edge of each studengaging member and comprise the means enabling the opposed rod pairs of a stud member to be readily snapped into place between the opposed members.

Wallboards defining the outer partition surface are adapted to [be frictionally ,secured or wedged in the interval defined by the stud-engaging members and the adjacent clip walls, and a channel-like baseboard member may then be secured to each tof the converging walls distal edge portions.

In a modified construction, spaced pairs of stud-engaging clip components similar to those above described are disposed intermittently along the length of an elongate channel member. Continuous parallel walls, which function as -baseboard members, define opposed side portions of the channel. The stud members are engaged by the channel clip portions in the manner previously described and the partition wallboards are wedged in the interval defined by the clip stud-engaging members and the outer parallel runner walls. Utilizing the continuous channel, a length thereof, corresponding to the partition length, is secured to the floor, dispensing with the need for aligning and securing individual clips along the floor surface at predetermined intervals and also dispensing with the need for base molding securing operations, as the base molding is an integral part of the elongate channel.

For a more complete understanding of this invention, reference should now be made to the drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view partiallybroken away illustrating a partition construction utilizing the improved clip of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective View of the clip utilized in the construction of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the improved clip of this invention, illustrating the marmer in which a stud memfber, fragmentarily shown, is to be engaged thereby;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of a modified oor runner construction utilizing features of the improved clip of the previous figures;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary end elevational view partly in section, illustrating the manner in which two wallboard members and a base molding are engaged by the subject clip in a partition construction; and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective View of a plaster ground which may be utilized with the provided clip construction.

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to Fig. 2, a clip member 10 which is the subject matter of this invention is therein illustrated. Although the clip 10 is illustrated thnoughout the drawings as being disposed on a supporting floor surface, it should be understood that the latter clip may also be employed on the ceiling to engage the upper terminal portions of the various partition components.

The clip 10 is preferably composed of sheet metal whereby certain portions thereof will be possessed of a resiliency which is desirable in the normal course of effecting the partition assembly. It will be obvious, however, that :other materials of construction having thedesired properties will function equally well. The clip 10 comprises in the unassembled condition, that is, in the condition in which it is unassembled to other partition components, opposed converging wall members maintained in spaced relationship by means of an interconnecting web portion 14. The latter web portion may be ,apertured as at 16 to facilitate the passage of a securing engaging member 18 are disposed substantially parallel to the underlying web portion 14 and are substantially rectangular in configuration. The projections 22, however, disposed on each edge of the members 18 are angularly inclined to the plane of the underlying web portion, and the plane in which disposed forms an acute angle therewith. It will also be noted that an outer edge 24 of each projection 22 is tapered inwardly toward the adjacent projection 20 and defines the hypotenuse of a triangle. The purpose of such specific configuration is to facilitate the clip engagement of a stud member 26 such as is more clearly shown in Fig. 1, as will hereinafter be made more apparent.

Reinforcing indentations or ribs 28 strengthen the corner defined by each converging wall member 12 and the web portion 14 of each clip 10. The distal edge end limits of the converging walls 12 are divergent so as to define strip portions 3G which form an obtuse angle with the remainder of the wall 12 with which they are in-l tegrally formed. It is the purpose of the latter strip portions to facilitate engagement with a base molding member 32, such as is seen in Fig. 1.

As previously mentioned, it is the function of the clip to engage the usual partition components in a ready and facile manner. The partition hereinafter to be described is of the nonload-bearing type, and it is intended that the provided clip be particularly adapted for use in this latter type of partition. Fig. 1 illustrates the clip 10 in engagement with sectional wallboards 34, to which an overlying coat of plaster 50 has been applied, as well as the previously mentioned stud member 26 and base molding 32. The clip 10 is illustrated in Fig. 1 as being secured to a supporting floor surface by means of a nail member 35.

The stud member 26 illustrated in Fig. 1 comprises opposed pairs of chord rods 36 which are maintained in spaced relationship by an interconnecting sinuous web rod 38. The bight portions of the latter rod are welded to the opposed chord rods, thereby assuring a rigid, sturdy stud construction. The stud 26 is the first member to be engaged by the clip 10 in the ordinary course of partition assembly.

The manner in which the stud 26 engages the clip 10 is more clearly seen in Fig. 3. In the latter figure a top plan view of the clip 10 is illustrated as well as a dotted line and a full line representation of the stud member 26. The right stud-engaging member in Fig. 3 and its projecting edge portions are labeled 18a, 22a and 20a for facilitating the following description. In the course of assembly, one end of the stud is initially inserted between either pair of the projections which define a stud-receiving recess on the upper portion of each stud-engaging member. This initial stud position is represented by the dotted line figure of the stud 26 in Fig. 3. After this initial insertion, the opposed unengaged portion, or chord rods 36, of the stud 26, is forced against the tapered edge 24 of the opposed projection 22a, thereby forcing the opposed stud-engaging member 18a to resiliently move toward its adjacent wall 12 until the unengaged end of the stud 26 is able to be inserted between the two projections 20a and 22a in the manner illustrated by the full line representation of the stud 26 in Fig. 3. It is apparent, therefore, that the studs 26 are quickly assembled to the clip members 10 by a facile snap-in engagement. This latter engagement does not require auxiliary securing means and requires but a minimum of effort in the course of effecting the assembly, although producing a sturdy construction comparable to any in the prior art.

Referring once again to Fig. 1, it will be noted that the second step to be effected in the course of partition assembly comprises the insertion of the Wallboards 34, which may be composed of gypsum or other suitable material, between the vertical stud-engaging members 1S and their adjacent wall members 12. It is apparent, by referring once more to Fig. 2, that the boards 34 should preferably be of slightly greater thickness than the in- 4 l terval defined by the upper portion of each stud-engaging member 18 and its adjacent wall portion. If such relationship is present, the Wallboards 34, upon being im serted into the clip interval in the manner illustrated in Fig. 1, force the resilient wall 12 to move outwardly a slight distance (see Fig. 5), thereby assuring a tight wedging engagement between the clip components and the wallboard. Similarly, upon engagement of the wallboard members, stud-engaging portions 18 will also be forced to move inwardly, thereby assuring tight, rattlefree engagement thereof with the engaged stud member 26.

It may be desirable to follow the following alternate method of construction whenever wallboard is to serve as a plaster base. Instead of forcing the lower terminal edges of the lower plasterboard sections into contact with the clip web portion 14, as illustrated in Fig. l, they are positioned so as to rest on the projections 20 and 22. The boards 34 will rest in this position because of the angular disposition of the clip walls 12, more clearly seen in Fig. 2. Plaster grout is then poured between the opposed wallboard sections until the level thereof is approximately as high as the base molding 32. The grout will be disposed behind and between the opposed molding walls 48 and act as a reinforcement for the same. Consequently, sudden contact with a chair or other similar impacts will not jar the molding walls. Consequently, chipping and cracking of the plaster wall 50 at its lower edge where it rests on the molding ledge portion 46 is avoided and a more stable partition construction is assured. The above construction, in general, increases the resistance of the partition to shock at floor level.

The remaining assembly step, in the course of erecting the partition of FigA l, comprises the insertion of an edge portion of the base molding 32 between a wallboard and the clip wall 12 adjacent thereto. It will be noted from Fig. 1 that the base molding 32 has a some-f what channel-like cross-sectional configuration. It is also seen that the latter molding has an upper C-shaped edge portion 40, as seen in Fig. 1, and a V-shaped portion 42 defining the opposed lower edge thereof. The base molding C-shaped portion 40 has a distal edge portion 44 which is adapted to be inserted or wedged between a wallboard 34 and an adjacent wall portion 12 of the clip 10, in the manner illustrated in Fig. l. The edge 42 of the molding is of such size and shape so as to function as a spacer maintaining a molding face 48 in the vertical position, when molding edge 44 is inserted as above described, and abuts against the clip wall bottom portion as illustrated.

The function of the divergent portions 30 of the clip wall 12 is apparent from Figs. l and 5. The latter divergent portions act to assist in the support of the base molding by engaging each molding corner defined by a ledge portion 46 of the base molding disposed at right angles to and formed integrally with the base molding face 48 and the opposed edge portion 44. The strip portions 30 also act as spacers between the clip walls and base molding, assuring a sound, rattle-free constructioni The partition of Fig.- 1 may be readily constructed with a. minimum of effort and without the use of discrete securing means heretofore employed in the art. The wallboards engaging the clips and studs 26 may be in sectional form, as illustrated in Fig. 1, or both inner and outer walls may comprise integral board members. When sectional wailboards are employed, clip members 49 are utilized to secure the same to the studs 26, as seen in Fig. 1. The subject clip is readily adaptable Ifor use with Wailboards composed of wood, plastic, or any other material suitable for use as a wall member.

In Fig. 2, the clip Walls `12 are illustrated as being upwardly convergent terminating in divergent edge portions 30 which are adapted to engage the runner 48. It is not intended that this invention be `limited to the `preferred clip embodiment illustrated. It may be desirable in some instances to construct the clip so that the outer walls are substantially vertical and have a slight outward flare at their terminal edges for assisting the introduction of the wall boards therein. This latter construction would be employed where engagement with the illustrated base molding is not desired. If metal lath is employed the outer walls 12 may be completely dispensed with and the lath wired or otherwise secured to the stud members .which would still be engaged in the manner illustrated.

The partition construction of Fig. l is illustrated with an outer plaster coat 50 disposed on the surface of the boards 34 andy resting at its` base on the base molding ledge portion 46. The plaster coat 50 may be dispensed with if an integral wallboard member having finished exterior appearance is employed.

The number of wallboards to be utilized in defining the partition wall thickness is a matter of choice and obviously depends upon the dimensions lof the clip construction and the wallboard thicknesses.

Fig. 4 illustrates a -fragment of an elongate runner member which has formed integrally therewith at predetermined longitudinal intervals, stud-engaging por-tions of the previously described clip 10. It will be noted from Fig. 4 that the illustrated runner 52 possesses opposed stud-engaging portions 18b similar to those of the previously described clip Y10. The projecting portions Zb and 22h, also similar to those previously described are found on the stud-engaging members of the runner 52 and the manner of forming the stud-engaging members is precisely the same as that above previously de scribed. The remaining features of the runner 52 are somewhat different, however, from the clip 10.

In addition to being elongated and of an integral construction, it will also be noted that opposed vertical wall portions 54 define the opposed sides of the runner 52. The latter walls are unlike the converging walls of the clip 10. The walls 54 of the runner define a base molding of finished appearance and have top ledge portions 56 and depending edges 58 which are urged into snug engagement with wallboard members 60 illustrated in dotted lines which are inserted between the stud-engaging portions 18b and the edge defined by the juncture of the molding ledge 56 and depending edge 58. Although the latter edge and stud-engaging member contact with the wallboard 60 is believed sufficient to maintain the wallboards in an erect and stable condition, reinforcing tongues 62, which are struck out from the lower web 14a, as are the stud-engaging portions 18h, are also employed. Each tongue 62 has an upper outwardly disposed portion 64, the purpose of which is to guide a wallboard into the interval between the lower tongue portion and the opposed stud-engaging members. Utilizing the runner 52 of Fig. 4, it is seen that the wallboards are readily inserted linto the interval defined by the runner outer wall and the tongue 62 on one side and by the studengaging members 18b on the other. Thus, the wallboards will be securely wedged in place between the above-described resilient portions of the runner 52. As a result of such a construction, there is no need for employing a discrete base molding, and the operations for securing the latter members to an engaging clip are dispensed with. The stud-engaging members 18b and the wallboard-engaging tongues 62 are disposed -at predetermined intervals along the length of the runner 52. As a result, stud members 26, previously described, may be inserted in exactly the same manner as was previously described with relation to clip at any desired interval.

The integral runner construction 52 may also be employed as a ceiling runner with the exception that the outer wall or base molding portion, or the portion which would be comparable thereto, would be of lesser dimensions, particularly the width.

Fig. 6 illustrates a plaster ground 65 composed of sheet metal or other suitable material which is wedged between a wallboard 34 and a portion of a clip Wall 12. The plaster ground 65 comprises an elongate angle-like member having two stripdike portions 67 and 69 disposed at substantially right angles to each other. The wide-r strip portion 67 is adapted lto be wedged between the wallboard and clip wall as illustrated, and the portion 69 is utilized as a -ground in the course of adjusting plaster surface 71 to its proper thickness. The latter surface is disposed over the wallboards 34 and extends to the lioor; such a wall construction may be employed with plastic base moldings Iwhich are adhesively secured to `the plaster surface.

It is believed apparent that other members such as baseboard heater elements may be securely wedged in place between the clip Walls and plasterboards in the manner -above described.

A novel clip has thus been provided which is obviously inexpensive to manufacture and which, in addition,l may be fabricated with a few simple punching and forming operations. The provided clip construction readily engages partition components and will afford savings in labor of approximately 75%. The saving which will be effected by dispensing with discrete securing means, suc'h as wire ties, connection adapters, etc. for the various partition components, is also believed apparent.

Many modifications may be made in the construction as above described, and it is intended that this invention be limited only by the scope of the -appended claims.

I claim:

1. A clip for maintaining a stud, or the like, in an erect position, comprising a channel-like member having opposed wall portions, an interconnecting web portion maintaining said wall portions in spaced relationship, opposed resilient means formed integrally with said clip disposed intermediate said opposed wall portions, two slot-defining, stud-engaging projections defining the distal end limit of each of said opposed resilient means, at least one of said resilient means having one of said studengaging projections disposed substantially parallel to said clip web portion and one of said stud-engaging spaced projections inclined relative to the plane of the clip web.

2. A clip for a nonload-bearing partition adapted to engage a stud, or the like, comprising a channel member having opposed wall portions, an interconnecting web portion maintaining said wall portions in spaced relationship, opposed resilient stud-engaging members comprising two parallel clip portions struck out from said web portion and normally disposed thereto, each of said stud-engaging members having two recess-defining projections disposed along the distal edge thereof, one of said projections being disposed toward the opposed clip portion and parallel to said clip web portion, the other of said projections being disposed toward the opposed clip portion, but being angularly disposed to the underlying web portion.

3. The clip as recited in claim 2, in which at least one of said angularly disposed recess-defining projections is of triangular configuration.

4. A nonload-bearing partition construction comprising a channel-like member having opposed converging wall portions, an interconnecting web portion maintaining said wall portions in spaced relationship, opposed resilient means having recess-defining distal end portions mounted on said clip, said means being disposed intermediate the opposed wall portions and substantially parallel thereto, stud means engaged by said resilient means distal end portions, main wall means disposed between each of said clip resilient means and each of said clip wall means, and auxiliary partition means wedged between said clip wall means and said main wall means in the normal position of assembly.

5. The partition as recited in claim 4 inwhich said'auxiliary partition means isa plaster ground.

6. A clip for maintaining a stud, or the like, in an erect position, comprising a channel-like member having opposed wall portions, an interconnecting 'web portion maintaining said Wall portions in spaced relationship, directly opposed resilient means arranged substantially parallel to said wall portions for engaging opposed portions of a stud, or the like, mounted in said clip, said means being disposed intermediate the opposed Wall portions, projecting means -formed integrally withy each of said opposed means, said projecting means defining a studreceiving recess whereby a portion of a stud may beengaged by said opposed resilient means, at least one of said projecting means having a slanted edge portion for slidably engaging a stud or the like to vbe mounted in said clip, whereby said resilient means may be urged outwardly enabling said stud or the like vto enter said studreceiving recess.

7. A runner construction comprising opposed wall portions each of lwhich defines a base molding of finished appearance, an interconnecting web portion maintaining said wall portions in spaced relationship, opposed resil- .ient means arranged substantially parallel 'to said 'Wall fportions yfor engaging opposed lportions of a stud orthe -like -mounted intermittently along the length of `said Vrunner between said runner wall portions, projecting means `formed integrally with each of said resilient means definin'g a stud-receiving recess whereby a'stud lmay b'e'engaged by saidopposed resilient means, at least one of saidprojecting means vhaving a slanted edge portion for slidably engaging a stud or the like to be mounted in said runner, whereby said resilient means may be urged outwardly enabling said stud or the like to enter said stud-receiving recess.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED VSTATES PATENTS 1,981,239 4Minsk@ Nov. 20,- 1934 2,000,243 Manske May 7, 1935 `2,758,748 Konefes Aug. 14, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 500,149 vCanada Feb. 23,` 1954 

